Flights to nowhere are either joyous or frustrating.
During Covid, Qantas sold out a Flight to Nowhere in ten minutes. Evidently, people were quite bored and enjoyed the thrill. But, last week’s British Airways flight from London, UK to San Jose, Costa Rica turned around over the Atlantic and landed back in London, leaving many passengers deeply frustrated. It seems the cause was a water leak.
This week’s parsha is all about journeys. Avraham and Sarah, the first Jews, are instructed by G-d to, “Go from your land, from your birthplace, and from your father’s house, to the land that I will show you.”
It’s obvious that they were people of great devotion and faith. They were told to travel, but not given an address.
For context, let’s think about the influx of people to Idaho. Most of the population growth has come from people choosing to live in Idaho due to its great quality of life. They are frustrated with the crime, traffic, and quality of life of their current place of living. So, they do their research and settle on what appears to offer a brighter future.
But, here Avraham and Sarah were not told where they were heading. Can you imagine packing up all your belongings and heading out on a flight to nowhere? That takes great courage.
But, it’s also interesting that Hashem emphasizes – in greater detail – where they are departing from – “Go from your land, from your birthplace, and from your father’s house.” Why does it matter so much to describe where they were previously? If the goal is to get to a special destination – shouldn’t that be the sole focus?
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Tomorrow will mark 86 years since Kristallnacht. Sadly, it will also mark one day since Kristallnacht 2024 – when Jewish fans of an Israeli soccer team were attacked in Amsterdam.
For many of us, the roller coaster events of this week leave us wondering what the future holds for the Jewish people. How do we move forward?
A Jewish response needs to be based on a uniquely Jewish attitude – one that starts in the Torah. By looking at the first mission of the first Jew, perhaps we can glean some wisdom and strength to navigate the turbulence that seems to lie in wait.
Certainly, Avraham and Sarah did not know what the future held. Their march forward wasn’t because they had figured out how to heal all of society’s ills. It wasn’t because they were the greatest statesmen and activists of the day.
Rather, they were outcasts. And, they had no game plan to offer.
All they had to offer was their deep faith in and surrender to G-d.
But, they did know what they were leaving behind. As the Chassidic Masters explain, land, birthplace and father’s house symbolize the comfortable spaces in our lives. Land represents nature; birthplace represents the environment that cuddles you; and your father’s home represents the education you received.
They knew that G-d alone would choose the path forward.
What they needed to choose was letting go of their tendencies, ideas, and complacencies. They needed to let go of their own agenda in order to embrace a new, unknown Divine agenda.
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We may not understand why the world is so cruel. We may not know the perfect solution. But, believing that we do know is part of the problem.
The Jewish way is to have faith that the path G-d has chosen for us is ultimately beneficial for us. Letting go of our preconceived notions, and following the marching orders outlined by our Creator, is the only certain solution.
It’s difficult and painful to let go, as I’m sure it was for our ancestors. It’s distressing not knowing what the future holds. But, that’s part of our mission: Marching to the land – and reality – that G-d will show us.
If the Flight to Nowhere is piloted by G-d, I’ll be happy to jump aboard!